Responding to the UK government's Spending Review announced by the Chancellor today, Sir John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
“In the face of significant headwinds, we are pleased to see recognition of the importance of engineering and technology to the UK’s prosperity and security, backed up by increased investment.
“We welcome the continued and longer-term support for R&D, energy and infrastructure. Funding to realise the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the go ahead for the new supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh, and the confirmation of continued funding for ARIA are all important commitments.
“However, to ensure the nation can maximise societal value from these investments, they must be embedded in a longer-term strategy. We eagerly await the Industrial Strategy to provide clarity for business and enterprise, so they can make informed investment decisions and continue to contribute to jobs and growth.
“We also welcome the uplift in investment for skills, but remain concerned about the need for holistic, strategic planning and investment in this space. The Academy’s new Skills Centre will seek to ensure that the engineering community can play its full part in delivering the skills base the country needs to thrive and prosper.”
Notes for editors
- The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, we deliver public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, we provide leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond.